Growing Cape Gooseberry, also Golden Berry, Inca Berry

Physalis peruviana : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
		S
				T
				P

(Best months for growing Cape Gooseberry in USA - Zone 5a regions)

S = Plant undercover in seed trays
T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
P = Sow seed

Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 50°F and 77°F. (Show °C/cm)
Space plants: 39 - 59 inches apart
Harvest in 14-16 weeks.
Compatible with (can grow beside): Will happily grow in a flower border but tends to sprawl over other plants.

Your comments and tips

01 Jun 11, geoffrey (Australia - sub-tropical climate): i would like to try and grow some do you have address where we can contact supplier or post seed po box 243 gayndah qld 4625 thanks in advance and we will reinbust you
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02 Feb 11, Andrew (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Is there anyone in the Gladstone, QLD region who has seedlings that I could purchase? Thanks, Andrew
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23 Feb 11, Ken (Australia - tropical climate): Hi Andrew, If your interested in some seeds, I've got some here in Rocky. Send a self addressed envelope to KjW 375 East St R'ton and I'll send you a dozen or so. Rgards KjW
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07 May 19, Al (Australia - tropical climate): Hi Ken, Do you still have some cape gooseberry seed still available. I am on the coast 40km away and would like to try growing them. This in advance, Al
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23 Feb 11, Shayne (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Hi can anyone tell me if I can buy these seeds from any shops in the Brisbane - preferably south Brisbane? Thanks Shayne
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24 Feb 11, Ken (Australia - tropical climate): Hi Shayne, Do a search for Eden Seeds, Their at Lower Beechmont Cheers
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06 Jun 11, Selwyn (Sel.) Hodgson (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Are goosberries best grown with a "stake" support or is there a special "trellis" to keep them up off the ground? They are very straggely and fruit gets missed in the undergrowth. HELP! Regards Sel. Hodgson
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07 Jun 11, (Australia - arid climate): I've never staked them, but I suppose tying up the stems might help like staking tomatoes to keep the fruit off the ground. You could try putting wire mesh around the plants so the stems grow through the mesh for support.
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10 Jul 11, (Australia - cool/mountain climate): I have just bought a gooseberry bush from Bunnings, Tweed, Burleigh and Nerang all have them at only $10 so Im sure Brisbane Bunnings will stock them.
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09 Aug 11, Bel (Australia - temperate climate): Cape Gooseberry is an entirely different species to the Gooseberry bush you bought at bunnings. Cape Gooseberries taste like tiny cherry tomatoes and are from the tomatillo family, where as gooseberries are from similar hedgerow families to blackberries. The bush you bought will produce very sweet, tart berries, but the cape gooseberry is quite different- and nice! Grab some cape gooseberry seeds from ebay, sprinkle a packet over your garden & go nuts!
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Search -- edible.co.nz Full sun Shelter from winds and tolerates moderate salty marine conditions. Are frost tender and grows as an annual in colder regions. In warmer areas they will grow for several seasons producing seedlings to continue the plants. Frosts can burn the plants but will recover unless the frost was hard. Prune back after all frosts have passed. Cape Gooseberries will grow in a wide range of soils and pHs. Soil must be well draining. Plants will handle periods of drought but too much moisture could encourage fungal problems. Plant in early spring as this will help with an earlier fruit set, space 0.5-1.5 apart. In most situations Cape Gooseberries do not need any fertiliser. Unneeded fertiliser could result in lots of vegetation and little fruit. Pinch out new shoots to encourage bushy growth. Prune back hard in spring to encourage new growth for fruiting. Pests Very few problems unless the soil is too wet and causes fungal problems and rot. ------------------------------------------- if you are going to fertilise only put small amounts on. A 9L water can with a tablespoon or two of fertiliser - with a low N% with some P and K. Don't use the tomato fertiliser - far too much N. A suggestion - a little manure or compost mixed into the soil - compost or mulch around the plants will help cool the soil down in summer - also you will save water by doing this. With your high temperatures I would suggest you make a shade cover for summer - in Australia we have shade cloth - 50-70-90%. Find some cheap wood off cuts and make a frame - then nail the shade cloth to it. Or some black poly pipe about 25mm thick and make an arc over the plants. By the article the plants should only grow to a meter or so high.

- Mike

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Keep your garden growing - see what to plant right now

Growing Cape Gooseberry, also Golden Berry, Inca Berry

Physalis peruviana : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

Your comments and tips

Gardenate

Keep your garden growing - see what to plant right now

Growing Cape Gooseberry, also Golden Berry, Inca Berry

Physalis peruviana : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

Your comments and tips

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